Assessment of food security status and its determinants among smallholder farmers in Akwa Ibom state using the household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS)

Abstract

Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, with smallholder farmers particularly vulnerable due to limited productive resources, income instability, and exposure to climate variability. This study assessed the food security status of smallholder farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined its socioeconomic and institutional determinants, and explored farmers’ perceptions and coping strategies using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Data were collected from 180 farming households selected through a multistage sampling procedure, complemented by six focus group discussions and nine key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordered logistic regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results showed that only 15.6% of households were food secure, whereas 24.4%, 35.0%, and 25.0% were mildly, moderately, and severely food insecure, respectively, with a mean HFIAS score of 11.8 (SD = 6.4). Regression results indicated that age and household size significantly increased the likelihood of food insecurity, while education, farm size, income, access to credit, and extension contact significantly reduced it. Qualitative findings revealed that farmers perceived food insecurity to be driven mainly by seasonal food scarcity, rising food prices, and climate variability, and adopted coping strategies such as meal reduction, income diversification, borrowing from social networks, and temporary migration, though these were constrained by weak extension support and limited credit access. The study concludes that food insecurity is widespread and shaped by interrelated demographic, economic, and institutional factors. It therefore recommends strengthening rural credit schemes, improving extension service delivery, promoting livelihood diversification, and implementing climate-resilient agricultural and food policies to enhance household food security.